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Training Curriculum

Welcome to the ddi-l training curriculum. This course teaches you how to document surveys, censuses, and datasets using the DDI standard and Python. No prior experience with DDI or XML is needed.

What this course covers

You will learn to turn a CSV or Excel file into a fully documented DDI package, complete with questions, variables, concepts, code lists, custom properties, versioning, and validation.

How the course is organized

The curriculum has 16 modules in three tiers. Each module builds on the one before it.

# Module Time Prerequisites
Tier 1: Foundations
1 What Is Metadata? 30 min None
2 Set Up Your Environment 20 min Module 1
3 Create Your First Study 30 min Module 2
4 Variables and Questions 30 min Module 3
5 Concepts and Universes 30 min Module 4
Tier 2: Real-World Skills
6 From CSV/Excel to DDI 45 min Module 5
7 Code Lists 40 min Module 6
8 Questionnaire Flows 50 min Module 7
9 Data Lineage 60 min Module 8
10 Data Linkage 60 min Module 9
11 Properties, Find, and Validate 40 min Module 10
12 Custom Fields 45 min Module 11
13 Update and Version 40 min Module 12
Tier 3: Applied Practice
14 Open and Modify Files 30 min Module 13
15 CLI Validation 30 min Module 14
16 Capstone Projects 60-90 min All

Where do I start?

Pick the row that fits you best.

I am a... Start at I can skim
University student (new to data) Module 1 Nothing
Researcher (know Python, not DDI) Module 1 Module 1
Archivist (know DDI, not Python) Module 1 Modules 3-5
NSO staff (know both) Module 2 Module 1

The big picture

This is the process you will learn:

CSV / Excel / SQL table
        ↓
  Python script (ddi-l)
        ↓
  DDI XML document
        ↓
  Validate & version
        ↓
  Archive or publish

Suggested schedules

Format Modules Total time
Half-day workshop 1-6 ~3 hours
Full-day workshop 1-14 ~6 hours
Two-day intensive 1-16 ~8 hours
Self-paced 1 per session 3 weeks

Supplementary resources

These existing guides go deeper on specific topics: